Powder dispenser



Dex; 19, 15 F. E. STIRN 2,534,636

POWDER DISPENSER Filed Feb. 12, 1949 INVENTOR FPfl/V/f E. JT/fP/V,

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 19, 1950 PUWDER DISPENSER Frank E. Stirn, PearlRiver, N. Y, assignor to American Cyanamid Company, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of Maine Application February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,078

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to powder applicators and more particularly todevices for applying a finely divided powder to the nasal and oralpassages, and deeper in the respiratory tract as well as to externalsurfaces of the body. It is of particular value in dusting a finematerial such as a powdered antibiotic upon a surface of the bodyor'more particularly and specifically, the air sages of the respiratorytract for local application; and because the respiratory tract willabsorb, such antibiotics, into the blood stream; thereby gaining both alocal and general therapeutic effect.

Heretofore there have been large numbers of devices worked out for theapplication of powder, some of them being called powder insulilators,but these have been generally unsatisfactory because of clogging of thepowder and complications in the dispersion of the powder. By

this my invention, I have found it possible to provide a simple andconvenient device which will disperse the powder in such fashion as tominimize clumping or aggregating of the particles. Even in powders whichbecause of dielectric effects have particles which stick to each other,my particular device gives a satisfactory fine dispersion almost in thenature of a smoke, or true aerosol. It is an object of this invention toprovide a device whereby powders such as penicillin or other antibioticsin pulverized state may be dispersed. The device is particularly usefulwith powders that range down towards the micron sizes and which aremoisture sensitive. It is an object of this invention to provide adevice whereby the powder may either be inhaled by the lung suction ormouth suction of the user or whereby the powder may be dispersed by anexternal gas pressure source, including such devices as rubber handbulbs, such as are normally used. with atomizers as well as compressedgas containers. The gas may either be air or other inert gas such as isregularly provided in a doctors or dentists afiice for the operation or"atomizers and similar devices. The advantages and simplicity of theinvention will be apparent hereinafter from this specification anddrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a pictorial View of a modification of a complete inhalatorshowing a protective cap.

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the details of construction of mydevice.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view showing certain modifications,particularly inlet at the bottom whereby a source of air pressure may beattached to the powder applicator.

device of my invention may be constructed of glass, metal or of plastic.The use of plastic is particularly desirable because it is comparativelylight, cheap and sturdy. Glass is apt to break, and metals are nottransparent. A transparent plastic has particular advantages in that theoperation of the device may be observed, and accordingly the degree ofdispersion of the powder determined. Further, the desiccant may haveapplied to it an indicator whereby a color change gives visualindication of its exhaustion and need for regeneration. The exterior ofthe device consists of a container H, a container cap 82, and an orificecover it. t one end of the container there may be provided air inletssuch as are shown in Figure 2, of such size that the contained materialsmay not escape. An alternative construction, as shown in Figure 3, hasat that end a gas pressure connection l5, adapted to be connected to asource of gas pressure such as a rubber hand aspirator bulb or any othersource of gas pressure such as may exist in doctors oflice. Adjacent tothis gas pressure connection may be placed a layer of packing it, suchas absorbent cotton. This cotton tends to act as an air filter and as anair dispersing means whereby an even flow of air is insured. The layerof cotton may be used with the air inlets such as shown in Figure 2 butis normally unnecessary if small enough orifices are used.

Adjacent to the gas supply is placed a layer of desiccant ll. Thisdesiccant may consist of porous silica gel beads. granular aluminumoxide or other granular solid desiccant of a non-toxic nature, theparticles of which have sufficient rigidity to insure against unduebreakage in use. Closing off the desiccant is a diffusion barrier l8.This barrier may consist of sintered metal or sintered glass. A sinteredmetal such as sintered bronze is particularly convenient because it isnon-corrosive and is mechanically sturdy and not susceptible tobreakage. This diffusion barrier is placed in the container in suchfashion as to retain the desiccant in position. If the container is madeof a plastic such as Celluloid, the sides of the container will havesufficient flexibility to permit the insertion of the barrier and itsretention by the elastic nature of the container.

Adjacent to this solid barrier is placed a flexible screen is. As ascreen is preferred a material such as a nylon screen. Other fabricssuch as a starched cloth or organdy may be used. Above this screen isplaced an agitator 28, which may be a glass bead, plastic bead,non-corrosive metal bead, etc. In the top of the container is a spacefor the powder charge 2i. The container cap l2 can conveniently be aslip fit on the container, serving as the cover. A screw thread may beused but modern plastics are sufliciently adaptable and dimensionallystable that a slip fit is normally more convenient and practical. Thecontainer cap has integral therewith a nostril or mouth nozzle 22,adapted to be placed 111 the mouth or nostril of the user. Adjacent thisnozzle is an orifice cover [3 which may be either a screw or frictionfit and which is' held against the nozzle to prevent the escape ofpowder prematurely. The orifice may have therein a gasket 23.

In operation the powder charge may be inserted into the end of thecontainer by the manufacturer at the time of construction, or may beloaded or reloaded by the patientat the time of use. For materials suchas penicillin which are damaged easily by moisture, it is advantageousthat a high quality desiccant be used in the lower portion of thecontainer as a moisture protecting material. The removal of moisture bythe desiccant not only prevents decomposition or harmful change in thepowder but additionally prevents the formation of clumps or pellets suchas is frequently the case when moisture is allowed to come in contactwith powders ofthis general type. In operation, after the charge is.introduced, the agitator 23, which'may be a glass bead, keeps the.powder from clumping and insures the breaking up of any lumps which maybe formed. The flexible screen prevents the direct contact of theagitator with the diffusion barrier which, being of a sintered material,is solid, and which, if allowed to contact the solid. agitator mightcause a packing or loading of the surface pores of the barrier.Furthermore'the flexible screen is caused to have such motion by theagitator that it serves as an additional means of breaking up and finelydistributing the powder. In operation, the nozzle may be inserted in thenostril or mouth and on inhalation by the atient the stream of air iscaused to flow through the desiccant, through the barrier, through thescreen, through the powder and through. the nozzle with its associatedorifice into either the nose or. the mouth of the patient. The diffusionbarrier causes such a reduction in air velocity at all points that eventhe finest powders are smoothly and uniformly fed into the air passagesof the user so that choking and coughing is prevented. The use of thedifiusion barrier together with the flexible screen and agitatorprovidesan extremely simple yet extremely effective method of dispersingthe powder uniformly because the air flow through the diffusion barrieris substantially uniform over its entire area. Accordingly as the powderis kept agitated and stirred by the flexible screen and agitator, theuniform air currents pick up a uniform amount of the powder, thusadministering to the patient a therapeutic dose in accordance with thephysicians recommendations.

For patients who are so low as to have impaired suction or for thedispensing of the powder on the surfaces of the body, as may be desiredin the case of burns, etc., an external source of gas pressure may beused through a suitable connection as shown at I5. In this manner thedoctor in his ofiice or the patient in his home is able to control thegas flow by manipulation of the gas source so that the powder isdisseminated in accordance with. the users desires.

In the embodiment shown, the portion of the container designed tocontain the powder charge may'be easilyreloaded. Thesorifice capprotects the device during storage and permits the device ready for use,complete, including the powder charge, to be kept in a dispensary untilsuch time as its use is indicated.

For casual or occasional use the device may be discarded after thedesiccant is exhausted. For repeated use over prolonged periods, thedesiccant may be regenerated. By removing the container cap, agitatorand screen, shaking out any dust remaining therein, the container,including the desiccant, is in such shape that it will not be damaged byheat and the device may be placed in a drying chamber underisuchconditions that the desiccant is regenerated.

Having set forth a description and advantages thereof, as my invention Iclaim:

1. A powder applicator comprising a chamber, at least one gas admissionport adjacent to: one end of said chamber, dehydrating materialpartially filling said chamber, a solid sintered barrier in saidchamber, a fabric screenadjacent said barrier, a portion of thechamber'adapted to contain the powdered material, a loose agitatormeans, and a closure for said chamber including a discharge orifice.

2. A powder applicator for the administration of a therapeutic agentcomprising a chamber, gas inlet means adjacent one end of the chamber, adehydrating agent partially filling the adjacent portion of the chamber,a sintered metal barrier sub-dividing said chamber and separating thedehydrating agent from the remainder of; the chamber, a cloth screen, abead serving as an agitator in the residual portion of the chamber,saidv residual portion being adapted. to receive a therapeutic agent infinely divided form and a closure means for said chamber including adischarge orifice, and. a cap for said discharge orifice.

3. A powder applicator for-the administration of a therapeutic agentcomprising a chamber, gas inlet means adjacent one end of the chamber, adehydrating agent partially filling the adjacent portion of the chamber,a sintered glass barrier sub-dividing said chamber and separating thedehydrating agent from' the remainder of the chamber, a cloth screen, aglassbead serving as an agitator in the residual DOItlOIlIOfthechainber, said residual portion being adapted to receive atherapeutic agent in finely divided form and a closure means for saidchamber including a discharge orifice, and a cap for said dischargeorifice.

FRANK E. STIRN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Schmitt Aug. 9, 1949

